Misi Mustahak
Misi Mustahak (Important Mission) is a 2005 Malaysian animated short film produced as a final-year project at Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya. Written and directed by Nizam Abdul Razak and Usamah Zaid Yasin with Safwan Abdul Karim and Nazrul Hadi Nazlan, the film follows elderly nursing-home residents who plan a mission to sneak back into the television room after being escorted out by a caretaker. The short film received recognition at local and regional film awards.[1]
| Misi Mustahak | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Starring |
|
Production company | |
Release date | 2005 |
Running time | 7 minutes |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Language | Malay |
Search Misi Mustahak on Amazon.
Plot summary
The short film begins with a spy being lowered into a high-security facility while suspended by cables. He accesses a computer and retrieves a diskette, but accidentally drops it onto a laser-protected floor while attempting to place it in his shirt pocket. The sequence is then interrupted by a breaking news montage, revealing that the scene is part of a film.
Later, three elderly residents are shown in the nursing home’s television room, watching the film and appearing disappointed by the interruption. A caretaker enters and instructs them to return to their rooms, as it is late at night. They initially ignore her, but after being scolded, they reluctantly return to their rooms.
Afterward, they devise a plan to obtain the key from the caretaker to gain access to the television room. Imagining themselves as spies, they consider various tactics to get the key. They eventually succeed in entering the television room but are forced to hide when the caretaker unexpectedly returns.
Production
Misi Mustahak is an animated short film produced in 2005 by a group of students at Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya as their final-year project.[2] The team, known as Raven Studios, consisted of classmates Nizam Abdul Razak, Usamah Zaid Yasin, Safwan Abdul Karim, and Nazrul Hadi Nazlan.[3] They began the project by brainstorming ideas for a simple, humorous story and ultimately decided to focus on elderly residents of a nursing home as the subject.[4] The short also parodied spy films such as Mission: Impossible. Production spanned approximately six months across two academic semesters.[5] During the first semester, the team focused on scripting and storyboarding, though the early storyboards required refinement to improve visual clarity and pacing.[6] The second semester was dedicated to the main production process.[5]
Throughout production, the team faced challenges such as limited experience in collaborative animation work, time constraints, and first-time voice-over recording experience.[5] They used a range of software and digital tools to create the short film. Maya and Sketchbook were used for 3D modeling and animation, while Adobe Photoshop supported texturing and concept art.[5] Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere facilitated compositing and video editing, with Particle Illusion employed for special effects. Macromedia Flash contributed to 2D animation sequences. Audio production was handled using Sound Forge and Vegas Pro, alongside AV VCS for sound effects. [7]
Reception
The short film was screened at the final industry showcase in the Multimedia University (MMU) theatre, attended by 200–300 people, including lecturers, industry representatives, alumni, students, and family members.[5] It received a positive response from the audience.[3] The short later gained popularity, particularly among university students across Malaysia, after being widely shared.[5] It was uploaded to YouTube on 14 November 2005. [8]
Awards
The animated short film received several accolades following its release. It won Overall Best and Gold Medal Short Animation Film (Open Category) at the 10th Malaysian Video Awards (MVA) in 2005.[4] The film also received the Best Tertiary Student Project (Creative Multimedia) award at MSC-APICTA 2005, which qualified the team to represent Malaysia at the Southeast Asian level in Thailand, where it won the regional competition against entries from 16 other countries.[4] Additionally, the film was included in the Best of Multimedia University Collection 2005 at Creative Pixels, National Art Gallery. [9][10]
| Year | Presenter/Festival | Award/Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 10th Malaysian Video Awards | Overall Best | Won |
| Gold Medal Short Animation Film (Open Category) | Won | ||
| Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA) | Best of Tertiary Student Projects | Won | |
| Creative Pixels, National Art Gallery | Best of Multimedia University Collection 2005 | Won |
Legacy
After graduating from Multimedia University (MMU) in 2005, Nizam, Usamah, and Safwan were invited by Burhanuddin Md Radzi, the managing director of the newly formed Les’ Copaque Production.[1] They pitched a film idea to him and subsequently joined the company. Shortly afterward, Nazrul also joined the studio. [11]
They worked on Geng: Pengembaraan Bermula (Geng: The Adventure Begins), Malaysia’s first 3D animated feature film, which was directed by Nizam.[1] The film was based on a story pitched by Nizam, Usamah, and Safwan.[1] During its production, they were also involved in developing its spin-off animated television series, Upin & Ipin, which premiered on 14 September 2007.[12] Nizam directed the first three seasons of the series, while Usamah directed the fourth season. Geng: Pengembaraan Bermula was later released on 12 February 2009. [12][13]
In September 2009, Nizam, Safwan, and several other original members of Les’ Copaque Production left the company and established their own animation studio, Monsta Studios (formerly Animonsta Studios).[14] Shortly afterward, Nazrul joined the studio. The studio produced its first animated television series, BoBoiBoy, which premiered on 13 March 2011. [15][16]
Meanwhile, Usamah departed Les’ Copaque Production in 2013 after 7 years with the company and founded his own animation studio, WAU Animation, later that year. The studio produced its first animated television series, Ejen Ali, which premiered on 8 April 2016.[17]
Misi Mustahak served as the first stepping stone for its creators, providing them with the experience and recognition that would shape Malaysia's modern animation industry through projects like Upin & Ipin, BoBoiBoy, and Ejen Ali.[17]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Yam Phui Yee (18 February 2009). "Daring adventures". Rage. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ YouthOS (27 June 2025). "Monsta: Lahir Daripada Projek Akhir Tahun MMU Yang Akhirnya Menjana Box Office Lebih RM174 Juta". Youth.my. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fairuz Zaidan (13 August 2011). "Boy Nizam". Berita Harian. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Norainon Othman (13 March 2012). "Prinsip ringkas bawa kejayaan". Metro Ahad. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 VOCCAST S3 EP25: Usamah Zaid – Perjalanan Dari Misi Mustahak Ke Ejen Ali, retrieved 2025-08-10
- ↑ Rikco Shim (4 November 2019). "6 Tough Lessons Shared By CEOs Who've Reached The Top Of The Local Creative Industry". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ Fairuz Zaidan (9 July 2005). "Elemen seni mmu". Berita Harian. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ Abu Hudzaifah (7 September 2019). "Misi Mustahak Pencetus Segalanya". The Patriots Asia. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ Amir Hafizi (6 December 2005). "Students triumph". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ "And the winners are …". The Malay Mail. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ "The wonderful world of Les' Copaque". The Star. 10 November 2012. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hazimin Sulaiman (17 March 2008). "Geng-ho! Animation on the move". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "A busy year for Les' Copaque". The Edge Malaysia. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ Doreen Leong (7 December 2009). "Life after Upin & Ipin". The Edge Malaysia. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ Karamjit Singh (16 March 2015). "Animonsta overcomes challenges to grow". Digital News Asia. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ "Cipta adiwira tempatan". Metro Ahad. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Michelle Gun (2 April 2016). "Fenomena Ejen Ali". Harian Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
External links
This article "Misi Mustahak" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Misi Mustahak. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
